Head of Latin & Classical Languages at Pembroke House School

THE ROLE

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and passionate teacher to join Pembroke House School as Head of Latin. The successful applicant will be tasked with reintroducing this previously popular subject and given the scope and freedom to create a successful department, teaching Latin to pupils in Years 5 - 8 and preparing them for Common Entrance and scholarship examinations at 13+. This is a full-time teaching post and as such you are accountable to the Head, who should be kept informed of all progress and affairs at school.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

• As Head of Latin your role is to teach Latin to children in the Senior and Middle school (Years 5 - 8).
• All teachers at Pembroke House work a total of around 28 lessons per week. Games sessions are not included in this total.
• You are responsible for the successful teaching practices of your department and essentially the overall progress of the students in your subject.
• You are responsible for the sensible and appropriate setting of exams at the end of each term and for half term assessments.
• You should be aware of those children who need learning support and every effort should be made to accommodate the needs of these children. All children who have been identified as needing learning support should have an up to date IEP.
• Sometimes children miss lessons for one reason or another. It is a member of staff’s responsibility to help the children in question to ‘catch up’ either through photocopies or ‘catch up’ work. In both cases staff must make sure that pupils understand the work that has been missed.
• You are responsible for the constructive and positive reporting on the children you teach over the year.
• As Head of Department it is your role to mentor and supervise other members of your department and ensure that they are meeting the various demands of their teaching roles at school. 

As a member of staff at Pembroke House you should be mindful of good teaching practice at all times. All members of staff are encouraged to share their ideas and you are welcome to observe and participate in lessons taught by other staff at school. The ‘Expectations’ document helps identify the areas of expertise that as a school we most appreciate and seek to foster.

Personal Attributes and Skills Sought

• We are looking for a well-qualified, dynamic, innovative and forward-thinking teacher.
• The successful candidate must be an outstanding classroom practitioner and able to teach to Common Entrance and to scholarship level. This may be their first senior position, or they may be an experienced Head of Department. We would be interested in applicants from both prep and senior schools and from both the maintained and independent sectors.
• The chosen candidate will be someone who really enjoys teaching and who is looking for an opportunity to take on new challenges as well as developing existing skills. Previous experience of preparing pupils for Common Entrance and scholarship exams in Year 8 is desirable, but not essential for the right candidate. Applicants should have high expectations of pupil achievement and behaviour along with excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• The successful candidate will be an excellent role model for pupils, and will set high standards of smartness, manners and general demeanour.

It is anticipated that the successful candidate will demonstrate the following:

1. Subject teaching
2. Good honours degree in the subject applied for or a closely related subject.
3. Ability to provide stimulating, well-planned lessons across the age and ability range within the school.
4. Subject knowledge to challenge able students and achieve strong results at all relevant levels. 

Candidates for this post are likely to have:

• a good university degree in their teaching subject, and a recognised teaching qualification such as a PGCE
• a forward-thinking and innovative mindset
• energy and dynamism
• experience of and empathy for life in a boarding school

The School Ethos

1. All members of staff are expected actively to seek to encourage all children to participate and ‘do their best’ in as many disciplines as possible.
2. As a School we do all we can to aim for the highest standards possible with regards to each child’s education and development. At the same time we strive to be fair to ‘all’ – children, staff and parents. Not only must children be tutored and explanations delivered of decisions made but there must be the same consideration of our parents and their need to know. Thus members of staff are encouraged to email and telephone parents and communicate as regularly and openly as time allows.
3. Throughout the course of each day all members of staff should make it their business actively to encourage good manners, respect and tolerance, at all times and they should endeavour to teach children how to be humble when they excel and gracious when receiving constructive criticism and advice.